Standings

The graphics next to each team are called “sparklines.” They depict each team’s performance over the last month. Each “up” bar is a victory and a “down” bar is a loss. There are horizontal lines for home games and gray bars represent games decided by two runs or less. “PWins” is short for Projected Wins, based on each team’s Run Differential, and is often a better measure of a team’s true strength.

Game of the Day

The Astros beat the White Sox, 10-9 in 13 innings. They had a 9-2 lead in the bottom of the eighth, partially thanks to two-run home runs by Mike Lamb and Lance Berkman, but Chicago’s Tadahito Iguchi hit a three-run homer to close the gap to 9-5. Iguchi struck again In the bottom of the ninth, when Brad Lidge loaded the bases and Iguchi hit a grand slam, tying the game 9-9. The Astros won in the 13th on a triple by Adam Everett and a single by Willy Taveras.

According to Elias, Iguchi is the sixth player in the last 25 years (1982-2006) to homer in both the eighth and ninth innings of a game that went to extra innings. All six of those players saw their efforts spoiled with a loss in the 11th inning or later.

Yesterday’s Home Runs

The following stats are provided by Hit Tracker, which logs the projected distance of each home run (if it were to land uninterrupted at field level) and its “standard” distance, which is corrected for weather conditions.

Player News

Jeremy Sowers allowed five hits and four runs over five innings, walking one and striking out three in his debut on Sunday against the Reds. Sowers was drafted in the first round by Cincinnati (No. 20 overall) in 2001, but he spurned the Reds’ contract offer to attend Vanderbilt University. He signed with the Indians in 2004 after being the sixth pick overall. The left-hander compiled a 23-5 record and 2.00 ERA in 42 starts in the minors, including a 9-1 mark and 1.39 ERA in 15 starts at Triple-A Buffalo this year.

Needing a pitcher to start the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader against the New York Yankees, the Florida Marlins called up right-hander Anibal Sanchez from Double-A Carolina to make his first major league start. Sanchez worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings, scattering seven hits while walking none and striking out two batters in the win. To make room on the roster, the Marlins optioned right-hander Jeff Fulchino to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Sanchez became the 20th rookie used by the Marlins this season — and the 10th to make his major league debut.

Although he didn’t get the win, Jeremy Bonderman put together his third straight game going at least seven innings and allowing one run. In the 22 innings pitched, he’s struck out 32 batters and walked just five. He left with the game tied, but the Tigers scored three in the bottom of the eighth to send the Cardinals to their sixth straight loss.

As noted by Baseball Musings, “after giving up six runs in four innings to the New York Mets, a pitcher names Towers owns an ERA of 9.11.” That’s eerie.

Rafael Furcal singled in the first for his 1,000th career hit on Sunday vs. the Pirates. He finished 2-for-4 with two RBI in the game.

Jose Reyes had four hits again, including a leadoff homer to lead the New York Mets to a 7-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. The streaking Reyes went 4-for-5 for the second consecutive game and the third time in five days. He extended his hitting streak to 13 games and is on a 32-for-57 (.561) tear that’s raised his batting average from .246 to .302. “I feel real good right now,” he said. “I made a little change in my swing. A lot of pitchers were throwing me off-speed pitches outside. I tried to pull the ball before. Now I’m staying with it.”

Washington exploited the wildness of Baltimore’s Daniel Cabrera (4-5), who walked five, hit a batter and uncorked a team-record four wild pitches — one shy of the AL mark — in 4 2/3 innings on Sunday. He allowed six runs on five hits.

Barry Bonds left Sunday’s game against the Oakland Athletics after the second inning with irritation in his left knee.

Byung-Hyun Kim pitched seven outstanding innings in the Colorado Rockies’ 3-0 win over the Texas Rangers on Sunday. It was the second consecutive start that Kim (5-4) did not allow a run. He went six shutout innings against Oakland last Monday. Kim scattered five hits, struck out seven and walked two in the longest scoreless start of his career.

Jorge Sosa pitched the ninth for his first save this season and the second of his career on Sunday at Tampa Bay.

Chuck James took a one-hitter into the seventh inning of his first major league start Sunday, leading the struggling Atlanta Braves to a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. James finished with eight strikeouts and four walks in eight innings. The 24-year-old left-hander made seven relief appearances for the Braves before going on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring sustained against the New York Mets on May 5. He was activated from the DL on June 7 and optioned to Richmond, where he was 1-0 with a 2.67 ERA before being recalled.

Braves right fielder Jeff Francoeur has the most two-out RBI in the Majors with 31.

Following his double in the eighth inning on Saturday, Matt Diaz’s pinch-hitting average (.368) is second in the Majors, behind the Brewers’ Corey Hart (.389).

The Astros sent LHP Philip Barzilla outright to Triple-A Round Rock. The A’s placed RHP Jay Witasick on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 20, with left ankle tendinitis. Florida’s Carlos Martinez (elbow) might not pitch again this season, according to MLB.com. The Phillies transferred RHP Julio Santana from the 15-day to the 60-day DL.

According to MLB.com, the Rangers are still expecting John Wasdin to rejoin the rotation on Friday against the Houston Astros. In a rehab start on Sunday for Triple-A Oklahoma, Wasdin threw five scoreless innings.

Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz expects to make his next scheduled start Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.

The Braves were hoping that John Thomson would return around July 4 after being sidelined by a blister on his right middle finger, but that is now questionable. “It’s touch and go,” manager Cox said. “It’s hard to say.”

Rangers right-handed pitcher Robinson Tejeda was sent to Triple-A Oklahoma on Sunday, a day after giving up seven runs in three innings. The Rangers purchased the contract of righty Nick Masset from Oklahoma.

The Giants’ Armando Benitez (strained right elbow) was unable to go on Sunday against the Athletics if needed, but he might be able to return on Tuesday against the Rangers. “It showed a little bit of inflammation,” trainer Stan Conte said. “It was a little sore, but it’s much better (Sunday). We’ll wait for the stiffness to go away.”

According to the Contra Costa Times, Mark Ellis (hand) is scheduled to start a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sacramento on Monday. Barring any setbacks, he might be back as soon as Friday against the Diamondbacks.

Reliever Keith Foulke’s right elbow tendinitis appears to be improving, but he is still far from a return date to playing according to MLB.com. “Foulke is doing much better as far as the range of motion and swelling, but the throwing part is a little slower,” Terry Francona said. “Hopefully Tuesday, we’ll get him out there to play some catch but that’s still not for sure.”

J.J. Hardy, making slow progress in his return from a sprained ankle, probably won’t be ready to return to action until just before or after the All-Star break according to the Brewers.

THT’s Stats

Yesterday we looke at the batters who have created the most runs this year. Today, we’ll look at the pitchers who have have the most Pitching Runs Created. Pitching Runs Created is a stat designed by David Gassko to put pitcher performances on the same level as batters. For instance, Travis Hafner is leading the majors with 69 Runs Created, but the Twins’ Johan Santana is having a bigger year, according to PRC, with 78 Pitching Runs Created.